Prohibition Ends

Here's a day we can all celebrate. December 5 marks the end of Prohibition in America since that's the day the 36th needed state ratified the 21st Amendment to the Constitution and repealed the 18th Amendment. Rhode Island was actually the third state to ratify this. We've mentioned before that Narragansett was able to survive prohibition by brewing beer for medicinal purposes especially the porter. They also produced soda and sold ice. But the company still struggled like others. Thanks to the 21st Amendment they were able to brew beer again at full production and become the biggest brewery in New England. Creating several jobs and help the economy grow. Check out the above video from a newsreel in 1933 announcing the end of prohibition and stating that industry was booming. Learn more about the rise and fall of Prohibition by reading Daniel Okrent's Last Call and watching Ken Burns' Prohibition.